Slapstick in the rain

Singin' in the Rain opens in Wellington on Tuesday. Photo / Supplied

The touring stage version of Gene Kelly’s beloved movie, ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, is likely to shower audiences with more than chuckles, writes Sarah Illingworth

Not every actor would embrace the role of comic foil but, for Steven van Wyk, director of Cape Town's Underground Dance Theatre, landing the role of Cosmo Brown in the West End's newest production of the hit, Singin' in the Rain, was reason to celebrate.

Called on to help audition the rest of the ensemble, van Wyk proved to have such a handle on the show's intricate routines that he was cast in the role of Don Lockwood's lovable sidekick.

"Physical comedy has always been one of my strengths, that very broad, slapstick comedy," he says. "In the film, Donald O'Connor's mastery of that is absolutely genius.

It's not just the humour, it's incredibly tightly choreographed - and he makes it look easy. There's a joy to that. You don't get to do a lot of slapstick, physical comedy these days. It's a wonderful opportunity."

New Zealand will be the first country to see this incarnation of Singin', which opens in Wellington on Tuesday before the curtain goes up at Auckland's Civic Theatre on May 1.

Photo / Supplied

Based on the classic 1952 film of the same name, the show rehearsed in Cape Town and is produced by the same team that fostered its success at London's Palace Theatre.

Audiences will recognise Bethany Dickson in the role of Kathy Selden from her performance as Maria in last year's The Sound of Music.

Reminiscing about that show's run, Dickson is quick to share how much she is looking forward to returning to Moustache Milk and Cookie Bar on Wellesley St, right beside the Civic.

"They have the most amazing freshly baked cookies. I got really excited when I was there the last time. I told them they would see me again as I would be back in six months."

Grant Almirall, who plays Lockwood, the show's enigmatic lead, is yet to try those fine cookies. Singin' marks the first visit to New Zealand for the star, who must tap, act and croon his way through every minute of the show, making it look effortless all the while.

To call the role demanding is to understate a fact.

However, having stunned audiences internationally as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys and Mungojerrie in Cats, the man is a known triple threat and well up for the challenge.

"I'm hoping it won't be more difficult than Cats, because that was pretty gruelling when I started," he confides. "The physicality and all that stuff was quite insane."

"Eight shows a week is hard, whatever show you're doing, but when it's physically demanding it's particularly hard," adds choreographer Kelly Ewins-Prouse. "But, as soon as you get out there and you're doing the finale in the rain, you forget about the hard work. You're just like, 'this is insane that I get paid to sing and dance in the rain on stage'."

She's referring to the show's title song, during which 12,000 litres of water "rain" from the Civic's skies. It's a moment that compounds the magic of the performance and the charisma of the cast - and may indeed spring a moment of damp surprise on an unprepared audience member.

Singin' in the Rain opens in Wellington at the St James Theatre on Tuesday. Tickets available from ticketek.co.nz. The show begins its Auckland season at The Civic on May 1. See ticketmaster.co.nz.